DOMINION PARLIAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 111, Issue 18625, 3 May 1932, Page 6

DOMINION PARLIAMENT

CONCLUDING WEEK. BUBINESB TO BE DONE. FINANCE BILL EXPECTED. WELLINGTON, Monday. A section -of the Legislative Council is concerned regarding its privileges in amending a measure of such a composite nature as the National Expenditure Adjustment Bill. The Government is understood to 'Claim that this legislation is a money bill, and that the Council has power only to accept or reject it. A Committee of Privilege to investigate that, among other questions, was set up by tha Council about two weeks ago. The first business -to come before the House on reassembling to-morrow will be the -second reading stage of the bill ratifying the trade agreement with Canada. It was also thought that a similar measure dealing with the trade treaty with Belgium would be neoessary. However, Mr Forbes said this evening that negotiations were still In progress with Belgium, as Britain’s altered tariff policy had put a new aspect on the question as viewed by -Belgium. It is expected the Finance Bill, the last major measure of the -session, will be introduced in the House on Wednesday evening. Three or four minor bills will also appear this week. Mr Forbes also intends to introduce a bill to extend the life -of Parliament. However, It Is possible that if that bill is likely to instigate discussion which threatens to render impossible the ending of the -session -this week the Government will consider deferring the bill until next session. With this Parliament only five months old, there does not appear to be any special necessity >for passing -such a bill at this juncture. SCHOOL AGE. RAISING THE MINIMUM. LEGISLATION NECESSARY. WELLINGTON, Monday. Tho Finance Bill will oontain a 1 •clause covering the proposal to raise the minimum age of admission -to primary schools from five to six years. ■lt was at first thought that effect to this recommendation of the National Expenditure 'Commission could be given by regulation, but it has now been reported that legislation is necessary. It is expected that the proposal will cause some -critical -comment when the clause Is under review in Committee. The Commission examined tha question particularly in the light of tha possibility of effecting a reduction in education costs. The savings possible by raising the school age were estimated at £II,OOO a year, comprising £2OOO in capitation allowances to education boards and £9OOO in incidental expenses to school committees. The -Commission expressed the belief that the raising -of the age would not adversely affect the children.

LEGISLATIVE OOUNCIL. YESTERDAY’S SITTING. ART UNION SYSTEM. (Speoial io Times.) WELLINGTON, Monday. The Legislative Council met at 2.30 p.m. to-day. Replying to the Hon. W. H. Mclntyre, tho Minister of Education (the Hon. R. Masters) said: “Art unions are not encouraged for taxation or revenua purposes, as this form of publlo finance is considered unsound. Th# matter of issuing further permits is at present under consideration by tha Government.” Unlawful Assoclationa. The Hon. C. J. Carrington asked tha Government whether it will take int# its Immediate consideration legislation to provide machinery to break up unlawful associations dangerous to the State. Mr Masters replied: “If the existing law proves ineffective to deal with unlawful associations, the provision of further legislative machinery will receive consideration." Deporting Communists. Mr Carrington also asked the Government whether In view of the activities of the Communist leaders in New Zealand it will take into its immediate consideration legislation on the lines of the amendment to the Immigration Act recently introduced into the Senate of the Commonwealth Parliament of Australia, in order to provide for the deportation 'Of undesirables. Mr Masters replied: "The details of the legislation recently introduced into the Commonwealth Parliament have not yet reached the Government. There is power under the Undesirable Immigrants Exclusion Act, 1919, to deport any person who is dissatisfied, disloyal, or likely to he a source of danger to the peace, order, and good Government of New' Zealand, provided that such person is not permanently resident in New Zealand, or has not been permanently resident therein for at least twelve months. The question of introducing further legislation on the subject is receiving consideration.” Economy Bill. The National Expenditure Adjustment Bill was received from the House of Representatives and read a second time pro forma. It was then referred to the Statutes Revision Committee. The Council adjourned until to-mor-row.